Male Infertility

Did you know that in approximately 50% of couples who have difficulty conceiving, the male’s infertility is a primary factor? While the topic of infertility often focuses on the female and her feelings about the issue, that there are often fertility concerns among men that can and should, be addressed. Most commonly, male infertility issues are caused by low sperm count or blocked sperm ducts, malformed sperm, or low sperm motility. Of course, male infertility can be a sensitive issue for men and women alike, but treatment options are available.

If you’re wondering whether male infertility is an issue that you’re dealing with, the most common symptom that will tip you off is the inability to conceive a child after a year of trying to get pregnant.

Sometimes, additional symptoms may also exist, such as:

Decreased libido
Erectile dysfunction
Low sperm count
Testicular or groin pain
Problems ejaculating
Decreased facial and/or body hair

There are a number of potential causes for male infertility, and many are temporary so they can be they can be addressed and overcome with time and medical attention. Some causes of male infertility include:

Prolonged exposure to heat
Prolonged exposure to medications (i.e. steroids) or certain chemicals
Genetic abnormalities
Undescended testicle
Hormone imbalance
Varicocele (enlarged scrotal veins)

Of course, if a couple who has been trying to conceive is unable to after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse, both partners should seek out advice from their physicians.

What to Expect:

Because evaluations of men tend to be noninvasive and easier than those of women, it is often suggested that the male partner undergo a fertility evaluation first. Often, such an evaluation incorporates a complete history and physical examination, as well as other tests such as a semen analysis, a urinalysis, blood tests to gauge hormone levels, and perhaps even a biopsy if it appears sperm may be getting trapped in a man’s testicle.

Treatment Options for Male Infertility

At Avant, our talented team has vast experience understanding the root causes of male infertility issues, and we often have therapies and procedures that we can implement to help make a difference.

While a treatment option will depend upon what is determined to be the root cause of the infertility, several common options include:

Hormone replacement medication
Infection treatment via antibiotics
Varicocele surgical procedure
Surgery to unobstruct the vas deferens
A surgery in which the physician reopens an obstructed ejaculatory duct
Cryptorchidism, a surgical procedure to address an instance in which one or both of the testicles has not descended

If you’re struggling with infertility, reach out to the expert team at Avant Concierge Urology today to begin the process of determining why, so you can keep moving forward.